Automatic installation switch



July 17,1934. HORST 1,967,122

AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION SWITCH Filed June 15. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 17, 1934.

A. HORST AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION SWITCH Filed June 15. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July l 7, 1934. A. HORST I AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION SWITCH Filed June 15. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 11, 1934 UNITED STATES v 1,967,122 AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION swrron Adam Horst, FrankIort-on-the-Main, Germany, assignor to the firm Voigt 8; Haefl'ner A.-G., Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany Application Julie 15,1931, Serial No. 544,627 In Germany June 20, 1930 13 Claims. (Cl. 20088) The heavy requirements made on automatic installation switches as regards reliable functioning when excess current' occurs and as regards mastering high short-circuit current intensities can be fulfilled only if the automatic installation switch is of very simple construction besides possessing good contact giving and high cutting out speed.

The invention solves this problem.

Two embodiments of the invention'are illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows the automatic installation switch in elevation partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1, the elements being shown in the switching in position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, the cap being removed. 1 4

Fig. 4 shows in elevation a stationary and a rotatable contact body.

Figs. 5 and 6 show in elevation partly in section a modified automatic switch in two switch- 1 ing positions.

In all figures the same elements are indicated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the actuating and locking mechanism is a simple togglep It consists of only two arms 1 and 2 arranged between two plates 3 and 4. Each plate 3, 4 has two guide slots 5 and 6 which are preferably straight. The arms 1 and 2 of the toggle are hingedly connected the one to the other by a pivot pin .7. A pin 8 of the arm 1, near the upper end of the same, engages with the slots 6 of the plates 3 and 4, a pin 9 of the arm 2 engaging with the slots 5 of these plates. A spiral spring 10 attached to the arm-2 has the tendency to shift the pins 9 and 8 of the toggle 1, 2 upwards in the guide slots 5 and 6. A push knob 11 in the upon the top end of the arm 1 of the toggle through the pin 8 and to shift the same in downward direction in opposition to the action of the spiral spring 10. The arm 2 has an abutment 20. designed to prevent collapsing of the arms 1 and 2 of the toggle in one direction through the influence of the spiral spring 10. The provision of the abutment renders the toggle self locking. When the push knob 11 is pushed down the toggle shifts downwardly as a unit, that is, without any change in the relative positions of its component parts. An overload magnet connected in a manner known per se, not shown in the drawings, is accommodated in the base 12 of the switch consisting of insulating mateinsulating material.

top plate of the switch case is adapted to actrial e.g. porcelain. Only the armature 13, which is pulled upwards in the case of ashort circuitlike excess current occurring, is visible in the drawings. The arm 2 of the toggle has a nose 222 against which the armature l3 strikes when it ascends due to overload. An elbow lever 14 is oscillatably mounted between the plates 3 and 4 by means of an axle 15. A spiral spring 16 acting upon the rear arm of the elbow lever 14 tends to oscillate this lever in anticlockwise direction so that the inner arm of said elbow lever is thrown against the toggle 1, 2, which is thus collapsed. A thermostat 17 serves to lock the arm of the elbowlever 14 to which the spring 16 is attached. This thermostat 17 consists for example of a bimetallic blade spring which is heated by the current of the switch circuit. For this purpose the bimetallic strip 1'7 may be slotted as is usual in the art so that it is U'-shaped, one of the arms serving for leading-in and the other arm serving for leading-off the heating current. The end of the bimetallic strip 17 cooperating with the elbow lever 14. carries a small element 17a made of If this current assumes during a longer time an inadmissibly high value the bimetallic spring 1'7 bends to the right so far that the elbow lever 14 is liberated and moves in anticlockwise direction under the action of the pull spring 16 so that its end strikes against the toggle, 1, 2 and collapses the same. The lower end 6a of the guide slots 6 for the pin 8 is at right angles to the other-portion of the slots so that the pin 8 and through the same the toggle can be securely held in opposition to g the pull exerted by the spiral spring 10 on the arm 2 of the toggle. One end of a spring 18 wound around the pin 8 bears against the inner wall of the push knob 11, the other spring end bearing against the lever 1. This spring 18 serves to return the toggle 1, 2 into its initial position when it has been bent by the action of the armature 13, the angle lever 14 or any other means. The toggle 1, 2 may be collapsed by hand by depression of a push knob 19, which is shiftable in opposition to a spring 190.. The knob or push button 19 when depressed actuates a spring 1912 adapted to turn a nose 1a of the toggle arm 1 so that this toggle is collapsed.

Rotatable bodies 20 forming the movable contact pieces of the switch are mounted on the ends of pin 9 and cooperate with stationary contact pieces 21 having an inclined surface on which the contact pieces 20 can roll. The contact between the contact pieces-20 and 21 is right.

consequently established every time by a different point of the surfaces of the rotatable contact pieces 20. The contact pieces 20 may be any solid of revolution e. g. rollers.

The. switch is shown in Fig. 1 in the open position in which the two bolts 8 and 9 are on the upper end of the straight guide slots 6 and 5. By depressing the push knob 11 the arms 1, 2 of the toggle are shifted downwards parallel in opposition to the action of the spring 10. This spring 10 has the tendency to collapse the toggle so that its hinge 7 would move to the The toggle 1, 2 can however not collapse in this direction as this is prevented by the abutment 2a. When the bolt 8 arrives .at the lower end of the slots 6 it is subjected to two components of force, one due to spring 10 which tends to shift it to the right, and another due to spring 18 which tends to shift it to the' left. However, it engages with the notches Go, as the force component of the spring 10 under tension having the tendency to shift the pin 8 to the right, is greater than the force of the spring 18, which tends to shift the pin 8 to the left. In order to bring the bolt 8 into engagement with the notch-like end 6a of the slots 6,

cam pieces on the push knob 11 may be provided by which a force component, directed to-- wards the right, of the force which moves the push knob 11 downwards is exerted upon the bolt 8. 'When the bolt 8 has jumped into the notch 6a, the switch is in the closed position. In this position the contact pieces 20 and 21 touch each other and the nose 1a engages under the spring 19b. 7

In Fig. 2 the switch is shown in the closed position. The releasing can be eifected in three different manners, i. e.'by hand by depressing the push knob 19, electromagnetically by means of the armature 13, and thermally by shifting to .the right of the bimetallic strip 1'7. If the push knob 19 isdepressed, the nose 1a turns in clockwise direction, the toggle 1, 2 collapses, and the contact pieces 20 are pulled upwards by the action of the spring 10. Substantially the same eifect occurs if the armature 13 turns the nose 2b in anticlockwise direction around the pin 9. If the bimetallic strip shifts towards the right, the angle lever 14 can move under the action of theforce of the spring 16. At its oscillation in"anticlockwise direction it collapses the toggle 1, 2 so, that the movable contact pieces 20 are lifted 01f the stationary contact pieces 21. As soon as the spring 10 releases, the force component, which tended to shift the central hinge 7 of the toggle 1, 2'towards the right, decreases, and this toggle will by the action of the force of spring 18 be returned into its initiaLposition 'shownin Fig. 1.-- At the upward movement of the contact pieces 20 under the action of the force of spring 10 the pin 9 strikes against an abutment 14a of the elbow lever 14 and thereby puts the spring 16 under tension,

in case the same should have released owing to shifting to the right of the bimetallic strip 17. After thermal release the switch is consequently immediately prepared for being closed again, as the cooling bimetallic strip 17 again securely holds the elbow lever 14.

' -It is apparent that the switch is of the nonclosable or trip free" type, as the trip is free from the handle so that an overloadwould cause.- the toggle to collapse even if the push" button 11 were held down.

The form of construction shown in Figs. 5

and 6 is similar to that shown iii-Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception of the construction of the thermally acting overload releasing-arrangement. In the form of construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the spring, which collapses the toggle 1, 2 when the thermal "release operates, is not put under tension at the opening operation, but only at the closing operation. Consequently the spring, as long as the switch is'in the open position, is not under tension, whereby fatiguing of the material of the spring is prevented. According to Figs. 5 and 6 the spring 16a is wound around the "axle 15 of the elbow lever 14, one end of said spring bearing against the elbow lever and the. other end against the toggle for instance against the pin 9 of the same. In the position shown in Fig. 5 the spring 16a is released. It will be put under tension by the downward movement of the pin 9 and tends then to shift one arm of the elbow lever 14 towards the hinge 7 of the toggle. This is however possible only, if the metal strip 17 shifts towards the right and thereby liberates the elbow lever 14. a

I claim:

1. In an automatic installation: switch, the combination of a simple toggle, an abutment preventing collapsing of said toggle in one direction, a return pull spring for the collapsed toggle, members providing guide paths for the toggle, anda push button adapted to shift said toggle along its guide paths, a second spring acting on said toggle and tending to move the same to the one end of its guide paths, notches in said guide paths adapted to securely hold slots, two pins each one extending through one arm of said toggle, the ends of said pins guided in said guide slots of said plates, a spring acting, on one of said toggle arms adapted to shift said pins of said toggle arms in one direction in said guide slots, a pushbutton adapted to act 1215 upon the top end of one of said toggle arms and to shift said toggle arms in opposition to the force of said spring in the other-direction, an abutment adapted to prevent collapsing of said toggle under the action of the force of said In spring in one direction, overload releasing means adapted to collapse the toggle in the other direction, an end of one set of said guide slots extending substantially at right, angles to said slots adapted to securely hold said pin in opposition to the action of said spring, and a return pull spring acting on one of said toggle arms for returning them into their original position after the toggle has been collapsed by said no overload releasing means.

3. In an automatic installation switch, the combination of a toggle-driving and lockingdevice consisting of only two toggle arms, two plates between which said toggle arms are arranged said plates having guides, a pin on 1 each of said toggle arms guided by the corresponding guide, movable contact members on one of saidpins, an end of the guide slots of one" set extending substantially at right angles to said slots and adapted to lock the correspond- 1 ing pin, a spring adapted to shift said pins and said toggle arms .in said guides in one direction, an actuating element adapted to shift said toggle arms in opposition to the action of said spring in the other direction and to make one of said pins engage in the ends of said guide slots bent substantially at right angles, an abutment adapted to prevent collapsing of said toggle in one direction under the action of said spring, overload releasingmeans adapted to collapse said toggle in the other direction, and a return. pull spring for returning the collapsed toggle into its initial position.

4. In an automatic installation switch, the combination of a toggle-driving and lockingdevice consisting of only two toggle arms, pins one on each of said toggle arms, members providing straight guides for said pins, rotatable contact members mounted on the ends of one of said pins, stationary contact members adapted to cooperate with said movable contact members and forming inclined surfaceson which said movable contact members roll, an end of each guide for the other of said pins being curved susbtantially at right angles to said straight guides and adapted to lock said pin, a spring attached to one of said toggle arms and adapted to shift the toggle pins in said straight guides in one direction, an actuating element adapted to shift said toggle pins in opposition to the action of said spring in the other direction, an abutment a dapted to prevent collapsing of said toggle in one direction under the action of said spring, overload releasing elements adapted to collapse said toggle in the other direction, and a return pull spring acting on one armof said toggle and adapted to return the collapsed toggle into its former position.

5. In an automatic installation switch, the

combination of a simple toggle, an abutmentadapted to prevent collapsing of said toggle in one direction, a return spring adapted to return said collapsed toggle into its initial position, members providing guide paths for said toggle.

and a push button adapted to move said toggle along its guide paths, a second spring acting upon 'one arm of said toggle and tending to collapse said toggle and to shift the same to the one end of its guide paths, elbow notches in said guide paths for one arm of said toggle adapted to securely hold said toggle in its position in opposition to the force of said second spring, a nose on one arm of said toggle, an overload releasing element acting upon said nose, said nose adapted to collapse said toggle,

a nose on the other toggle arm, and a second push button adapted to act upon said nose and to collapse said toggle.

6. In an automatic installation switch, the combination of a simple toggle, an abutment adapted to prevent collapsing of said toggle in one direction, a return spring'adapted to return the 'collapsed toggle into its initial position, members providing guide paths for said toggle, and a push button adapted to move said toggle along its guide paths, a second spring acting upon one arm of said toggle and tending to collapse said toggle and to shift the same to the one end of its guide paths, elbow notches in said guide VII paths for one arm of said toggle adapted to securely hold said toggle in its position in opposition to the force of said second spring, a nose on one arm of said toggle, an overload magnet armature adapted to collapse said toggle, a nose on the other arm of said toggle, .a second push button adapted to act upon said nose and to collapse said toggle, an angle lever, a spring acting on said angle lever adapted to press one of the arms of said angle lever against said toggle, a thermal overload releasing element adapted to securely hold the other arm of said elbow lever, and an abutment on said angle lever adapted to be acted upon by an arm of said toggle when the same 'is shifted and arranged in such a manner that said spring acting on said angle lever is put thereby under tension.

'7. In an automatic installation switch, the combination of a simple toggle, an abutment adapted to prevent collapsing of said toggle in one direction, a return spring adapted to return the collapsed toggle into its initial position, members providing guide paths for said toggle and a push button adapted to move said toggle along its guide paths, a second spring acting upon one arm of said toggle and tehding'to collapse said toggle and to shift the same to the one end of its guide paths, elbow notches in said guide paths for one arm of said toggle adapted-to securely hold said toggle in its position in opposition to the force of said second spring, a nose on one arm of said toggle, an overload magnet armature adapted to collapse said toggle, a nose on the other arm of said toggle, a second push button adapted to act upon said nose and to collapse said toggle, an angle lever, a, spring acting on said angle lever adapted to press one of the arms of said angle lever against said toggle, a thermalv overload releasing element adapted to securely hold the other arm of said angle lever, and an abutment on said angle lever adapted tobe acted upon in opposition to spring force by an arm of said toggle when the same is shifted to set the switch and arranged so that said spring acting on said angle lever is put thereby under tension.

8; In an automatic installation switch, the combination of a simple toggle, an abutment adapted to prevent collapsing of said toggle in one direction, a return spring adapted to return the collapsed toggle into its initial position, members providing guide paths for said toggle, and a push button adapted to move said toggle along its guide paths, a second spring acting upon one arm of said toggle and tending to collapsesaid toggle and to shift the same to the one end of its guide paths, elbow notches in said guide paths for one arm of said toggle adapted to securely hold said toggle in its position in opposition to the force of said second mentioned spring, a nose on one arm of said toggle, an overload magnet armature cooperating with said nose and adapted to collapse said toggle, a nose on the other arm of said toggle, a second push button adapted to act upon said nose and to collapse said toggle, an angle lever,

a spring wound around the axle of said angle lever one end of said spring bearing against one arm of said angle lever and the other end of said spring bearing against one arm of said toggle, said spring being adapted when put un- -der, tension to push said angle lever against the arranged at one end of thetoggle by means of which is connected to move jointly with the toggle and the other of which is stationary.

10. In an automatic installation switch the combination of an actuating and locking device which consists of two arms forming a toggle, members at both sides of the toggle forming guide paths in which the toggle may be shifted,

a push buttonat one end of the toggle by means of which the toggle may be shifted in its guide paths, 9. spring which opposes the shifting of the toggle, notches in the guide paths'adapted to hold the toggle in its shifted position, electromagnetic release means and thermal release means for collapsing the toggle arranged to operate at different places on said toggle and contact elements arranged at the end of .the toggle remote 'from the push button and one of which is connected to the toggle and the other of which is stationary.

11. A non-closable'switch comprising a simple toggle, a push button arranged at one end of the toggle for shifting the toggle as a unit to close the switch, detent means for engaging the opposite end of the toggle to hold it in closed position, release means for breaking the toggle and means operative upon breaking of said toggle to reset the toggle. V

12. A non-closable switch comprising a simple toggle, a push button arranged at one end of the toggle for shifting the toggle as a unit to close the switch, detent means for engaging the opposite end of the toggle to hold it in closed position, release means for breaking the toggle; and means operative upon breaking of said toggle to reset the toggle.

13. A non-closable switch comprising a pair of arms forming a toggle, a push button for shifting the toggle as a unit, a pair of plates between which said toggle is arranged, pins pasing through the arms of said toggle and engaging guide slots in said plates to guide said toggle in its shifting movement and notches arranged at the end of certain of said guide slots to lock the toggle in shifted position.

ADAM HORST. 

